Master controller and dynamic brake control for hoists



J. KELLOGG Oct. 5, 1954 MASTER CONTROLLER AND DYNAMIC BRAKE CONTROL FOR HOISTS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 24, 1949 Oct. 5, 1954 KELLGG 2,691,080

MASTER CONTROLLER AND DYNAMIC BRAKE CONTROL FOR HOISTS 5 ,Qm'iww m Oct. 5, 1954 J KELLOGG 2,691,080

MASTER CONTROLLER AND DYNAMIC BRAKE CONTROL FOR HOISTS Filed June 24, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 705 I A/El/T/PAL POE/770W FwJ /y pfif ED w u 52W 5 6 Jase a e 0 3] m Patented Oct. 5, 1954 UNITED STATES MASTER CONTROLLER AND DYNAMIC BRAKE CONTROL FOR HOISTS .loseph Kellogg, Milwaukee, Wis, assignor to Nordberg Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 24, 1949, Serial No, 101,064

9 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in hoist controls, one purpose of which is to provide an improved master controller and brake control for hoist drums.

Another purpose is to provide such a control in which a single lever is employed.

Another purpose is to provide a brake control for hoists, which combines a master controller and a dynamic brake control employing a single lever with a full interlock.

Other purposes will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

3E illustrate the invention more or less diagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through an embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section on a smaller scale, illustrating the application of the control assembly to the switch structure;

Figure 5 is a perspective illustration, with parts omitted, of another embodiment of my invention; and

Figure 6 is a partial perspective illustration of another embodiment of my invention.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specification and drawings.

Referring to the drawings and first to Figures 1 to 4, I generally indicates a control console, positioned on any suitable supporting surface 2. It has an upper wall 3 and a lower wall 4. Mounted on the lower wall A are bearing elements 5, in which is journaled a control shaft 6.

' Mounted on the shaft 5 is a central huh I, having elongations t at one end. Pivoted to the elongations 8, as at Q, is the manual control handle it, the upper portion H extending above the console wall or top 3. Mounted on or forming part of the console top 3 is the slotted element 22, which has parallel slots is, separated by solid portions i i. The solid portions it are broken, as at it, to produce an H shaped slot system in the plate l2.

It will be understood that the handles in, H, when swung to the right or left, referring to the position of the parts as shown in Figure 3, can be moved through the separation is into either one of the slots 53. It may then be moved longitudinally along whichever of the two slots it has entered, but selectively positionable at either end of such slot. Thus, besides the neutral intermediate position in which the lever ii is shown in Figure 3, it may be positioned at four control positions, one at each end of each of the slots [3.

Positioned between the central hub l and the keyed or pinned spacers as are hubs ll, i8, which are normally rotatable on the shaft 6, Each such hub carries an upward arm or extension Ha or 58a, to which is pivoted a locking lever ill; or ltb. These levers are normally urged toward the locking position in which they are shown in Figure 2 by adjustable springs H0 or I80. The upper ends of the locking levers are adapted to engage normally fixed locking abutments lid or 48d. It will be observed that each of the levers lib and i8!) is laterally interlatched as at lie or lite to provide a ready abutment to maintain a contact of limited area, when the hand lever it, II is swung from its neutral position of Figures 2 or 3 into contact with either of the locking levers. It will be understood that when the handle ii is in neutral position in the slot portion 55, both of the arms Ma and lta are locked in position. Thus any controls which are secured to them are also looked in position. The handle 80, ii cannot be moved to neutral position without leaving the previously contacted locking lever in a proper position to be spring thrust into locking contact with the locking abutment lid or ltd.

Each of the arms Ila. or Hia has secured to it a control element. With reference, for example, to Figure l, I illustrate a plurality of drum-type master switches 26, 2i, each suitable to control a hoist motor. Since the hoist, the hoist motor, and the switches do not of themselves form part of the present invention, they are not herewith illustrated in detail.

Taking the master switch 29 as typical, it is provided with an actuating lever 22, to which is pivoted the radius rod or push-pull member 23. The rod 23 is pivoted to one arm of the bellcrank lever i i. To the opposite end of the lever 24% is pivoted the push-pull member 25. it, in turn, is pivoted to the upper bell-crank lever 26, mounted rotatably within the console i. The opposite arm of the lever 25 has pivoted to it a push-pull member 21. The member 2? is pivoted at its opposite end to an ear 28 extending from the arm l8a. It will be understood that one or more of the members 23, 25 or 2? may be made adjustable as to length. Any suitable means may be employed to tighten, loosen or suitably adjust the various members in the line of drive between the switch control lever 22 and the lever its. It will be understood that an identical line of drive is used between the lever Ila and the drum-type master switch 2 i.

For operation of the device when the lever Hi, I I is left in the neutral position in which it is shown in Figures 2 and 3, the arms Ila and lfia are locked by the levers Ill) and [3b in neutral position. The control arms 22 of the master switch are thereby held in neutral position. As the operator moves the lever IE3, II to the right, referring to the position of the parts as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the lower part of the lever contacts the bearing projection ice of the lever 18b and moves it against the spring I out of engagement with the fixed locking abutment Id. When the operator has moved the control lever into alignment with the right-hand slot I3, he can therefore move it toward either end of the slot. The result is a rotation of the switch control lever 22 either to the right or to the left. Similarly, the lever II], II may be employed to control a position of the corresponding lever of the master switch 2| by moving it into the lefthand slot I3 of Figure 3.

Figure illustrates somewhat diagrammatically a somewhat modified structure in which switch actuation is also obtained directly by the lateral movement of a control lever from a neutral position in the intermediate arm of an H- shaped slot. Referring to Figure 5, it will be understood that the console parts are omitted for convenience, but that in practice, a console such as is shown in Figure 4 is used. Figure 5 should be read as including such a console.

Console supported brackets 50 carry the shaft 51. The central hub 52 has an outward extension 53 to which is pivoted, as at 54, the lower lever portion 55. This lever portion has a pair of cross arms 56, 57 and a short upward extension 58 thereabove, in the form of a rectangular block. 59 is an upper lever portion terminating in the manual engageable ball 60. 6I indicates a slotted plate, having a right-hand slot 62, a left-hand slot 63 and a central cross slot 5 1 connecting them.

Normally rotatable on the shaft 53, between the hub 52 and the spacers 65, is a right-hand arm 66 and a. left-hand arm 61. Each such arm has a top cross piece 68, 69 to which is pivoted an actuating rod or push-pull member ID or II, which forms part of a system such as is shown in Figures 1 to 4. Specifically, I wish Figure 5 to be understood as including a suitable actuating connection to a suitable master switch, such as is shown, for example, at or ZI in Figure 4.

I2, 73 indicate locking lugs which may be welded or otherwise secured to the lower side of the console deck, such as the deck or wall 3 of Figures 1 and 4. The locking lugs may be slotted, as at M, to receive an entering portion I5 on looking levers I6, of which one is pivoted between ears to each of the arms 66, 6?, as at 56a. Springs 665 are positioned normally to hold the latches 66 in the latching position in which they are shown in Figure 5, when the lever block is in neutral position.

As in the case of the form of Figures 1 to 4, the movement of the lever assembly from neutral position engages one or the other of the latching levers and thus releases either the arm 66 or the arm 6"! for movement in unison with the lever 55, when the lever is moved along either the slot 62 or the slot 63. Thus the structure of Figure 5, although slightly changed in detail, performs the functions above described in connection with the structure of Figures 1 to 4.

An additional feature is the provision for dynamic brake control. Since the lever structure, which includes the manual engageable portion or 66, is in effect universally connected at its lower end, it can readily be swung from neutral position and moved from end to end of each of the slots. The arms 56 and 5? on the lever 55 are adapted to control the switch structures II and 11a, while the lever is moving backward or forward through either of the H slots in the plate 6|.

It will be understood that the switches I! and Ho will be secured to the lower surface of the console deck. Each switch I1 or 'I'Ia may serve the double purpose of selecting the direction of rotation of the hoist when depressed and of acting as an ofi-position switch when released. Since a wide variety of circuits may be employed and since the circuits do not of themselves form part of the present invention, they are not herein shown in detail. It will be understood, however, that two individual switch elements, controlled by the members 16a, should be wired 'in series to compel the lever block 58 to be in dead center or locked position as shown in Figure 5, before an under voltage contactor can be closed to give current to the secondary circuit. The springs 66b furnish the locking force and also serve to maintain the operating lever 55 in the central neutral position when the operators hand is removed from the handle 59 or ball 60. A light spring force may also be provided to force the operating lever back to neutral, whenever dynamic braking is being applied. Such a spring would also enable the operator to feel the amount of dynamic braking being applied.

Referring to the form of Figure 6, I illustrate a simplified structure in which a hub I60 is rotatable about a horizontal axis in any suitable supports IiJI. Pivoted to it, as at I02, is the lever structure generally indicated as I03. This lever structure terminates in an upper manual control portion I04, with any suitable hand knob I05 at the top. The lever has the same relation to the plate 6| as does the lever in the form of Figure 5. The lever includes cross-pieces or lateral extensions I01, I08, like the extensions 56, 51 of the lever of Figure 5. These are opposed to switches '11, Tia, as in the case of Figure 5. However, in place of the provision of the somewhat complicated structure of Figure 5, I find it advantageous to employ a single rod IIO, extending to any suitable single master switch, not herein shown. This rod H0 is secured by any suitable universal connection to the lever I03. I illustrate, for example, a ball connection III,

. suitably secured to any suitable lateral extension I 52 of the lever I03. The details of the connection are not important. It will be understood, however, that I employ a connection which permits rotation of the lever I03 about the axis of the hub I00 and also permits rotation of the lever I03 about the axis I02, all while maintaining an adequate actuating connection between the lever I03 and the control rod I I0.

For convenience, the results of individual movements or positions of the lever I03 are indicated in Figure 6, as in Figure 5. With the simplified structure of Figure 6, I am able to use a single master switch in place of the multiple master switches employed with the other forms herein shown. Whereas I do not illustrate any master switch in Figure 6, it will be understood that a single master switch, like one of the master switches 20, 2I of Figure 4, may be employed. In operation, the entire control is obtained by a single master switch, by the actuation of a single lever.

It will be realized that whereas I have described and shown a practical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made in size, shape, number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit and content of my invention. I therefore wish my description and drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illustrative or diagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my specific showing herein.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

While my invention may have other applications, I illustrate it as applicable to a two-drum hoist assembly. Each drum is controlled by one of the master switches 20, 2! of Figure l. Each such master switch is controlled by one of the levers lid, [to or 66, 6'5.

In the form of Figure 5, in addition to the control of the master switches for the two-drum hoist motors, I illustrate the additional use of the single lever to actuate additional switches used, for example, for braking.

It should be kept in mind that in hoisting equipment, such as mine hoists in which a hoist drum or plurality of drums may be used to draw in or pay out cable, the braking function becomes vitally important. The present structure permits an operator, using a single control element, to control both the motoring and the braking forces of the drum or drums used. The structure herein described may be applied to a twodruni structure, the single lever controlling the motoring and the braking for both drums. More broadly stated, my invention may be applied to situations where inertia is set up by the opera tion of control equipment, my control assembly being effective, with a single control element, to control deceleration as well as acceleration.

The present invention is applicable to an operating A. C. motor used for example to actuate a hoist drum. The dynamic braking is obtained by opening the A. C. circuit and by supplying D. C. current to the field of the motor.

Considering specifically Figure 5, the switches I? and Tia may be introduced to serve as the off-position and directional switches, so that the contact points of the master switch may be used for motoring or dynamic braking control. Thus when the lever 59 is moved along either slot, it controls the motoring when moved in one direction and controls the dynamic braking when moved in the other.

I claim:

1. In a control system for hoists and the like, a guide member having an H-shaped slot systerm, a control lever mounted for ready movement through the cross slot and along the side slots of the H, two actuating levers each rotatable with the control lever when the control lever is moved along one of the side slots, a locking element for each actuating lever formed and adapted to lock the lever against unintended movement when the control lever is in neutral position in the cross slot, each locking element being adapted for release by contact of the control lever when the control lever is moved against it.

2. The structure of claim 1, characterized by and including a movable latch, engageable by the control lever, mounted on each actuating lever and fixed locking abutment therefor, fixed in relation to said guide member. I

3. The structure of claim 1, characterized by and including a shaft having a generally horizontal axis located beneath said guide member and generally parallel with the cross slot of the H, and a hub intermediate the ends of said shaft, the control lever being pivoted to said hub for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and generally parallel with the side slots of the H.

4. The structure of claim 1, characterized by and including a shaft having a generally horizontal axis located beneath said guide member and generally parallel with the cross slot of the H, and a hub intermediate the ends of said shaft, the control lever being pivoted to said hub for rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the shaft and generally parallel with the side slots of the H, the actuating levers being rotatable in relation to said shaft and being located one on each side of said hub.

5. The structure of claim 1, characterized by and including switch actuating elements located adjacent said guide member, at least one of said elements being engageable by the control lever, when the control lever is positioned in either side slot, said control lever having portions formed and adapted to maintain contact with said switch actuating member throughout the excursion of the control lever in the slot adjacent such switch actuating member.

6. The structure of claim 1, characterized by and including switch control elements positioned and adapted for actuation by the control lever, when the control lever is moved out of neutral position in the cross slot.

7. In a control system for motors, a control lever mounted for movement along a predetermined path, a switch, a connection between said control lever and said switch actuatable by said lever in response to said movement along said path, and an additional switch control member normally engageable by said lever during its movement along said path, said lever being mounted for additional movement transversely to said path, whereby it may be moved out of engagement with said last-mentioned switch member.

8. In a control system for motors for hoists and the like, in which alternating current is employed, a single control lever mounted for movement along a predetermined path, a single master switch adapted for motoring and for dynamic braking control of the motor, an actuating connection between said switch and said control lever, actuatable by said lever in response to its movement along said path, and an additional onposition and directional switch assembly engageable by said lever in response to movement of said lever transversely of said predetermined path.

9. In a control system for hoists and the like, a guide member having an H-shaped slot system consisting of two parallel, longitudinal slots and a cross-slot connecting them, a control lever mounted for ready movement through the crossslot and along the side slots of the H, two actuacting levers, each rotatable coaxially with the control lever when the control lever is moved along one of the side slots, a locking element for each actuating lever formed and adapted to lock said actuating lever against unintended movement when the control lever is in neutral position in the cross-slot, each locking element having release means actuable by contact of the control lever when the control lever is moved against it.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,629,666 Keeler May 24, 1927 2,419,908 Mott Apr. 29, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 405,644 Great Britain Jan. 29, 1934 

